Author Notes: Kristy Mucci graciously shared with me the basic recipe for booze-soaked sour cherries that she and her fiance recently concocted as a homemade cocktail garnish. She covered sour cherries with Luxardo (Maraschino liqueuer), brought them to a simmer, then turned off the heat and let them cool in the Maraschino. I added a few strips of lemon peel and decided not to pit the cherries. These little booze bombs are both tart and sweet at the same time and would be the perfect garnish for a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, or another cocktail of your choice (I wouldn't put one in your kid's Shirley Temple, though). —Merrill Stubbs

Makes 1 cup cherries

1cup sour cherries, rinsed, with stems and pits

3/4 to 1cups Maraschino liqueur (you can substitute cherry brandy, but add a little sugar if you do)

Peel from 1/2 lemon, in strips

Put the cherries in a single layer in a small, heavy saucepan. Pour enough Maraschino over to just cover the fruit and add the lemon peel.

Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat. Once it starts bubbling, remove the pot from the heat and let the cherries sit and steep until they are cool. Use in your favorite cocktail, storing any extras with the liqueur in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I've been making this for a couple of years now, love them in an Old Fashion. I 've done pitted and unpitted. And, sometimes add half of a vanilla bean. Store in nice jars in the frig, for a year! And, give them as Christmas presents to other Old Fashion lovers!